Mr. Madi Ceesay, the Director of the Media Agenda, who also doubles as the Chief of the Daily News, has said that every child has a right to privacy, which must be respected by all and sundry.
Mr. Ceesay made this remark at the opening of a two-day training session for journalists on the rights of children, organised by the Child Protection Alliance (CPA) at the NaNA Conference room in Bakau last Thursday.
"Children are one of the most vulnerable people on earth and we must all know and understand that every child has a right to privacy and these rights must be respected. Keeping the identity of the victim is a primary concern. Truth is an ultimate goal in journalism, but one has to be objective," he said.
Mr. Ceesay called on journalists to desist from what he described as harmful publications, especially on issues concerning children that make life difficult for them.
He advised journalists to respect the Act on the rights of children that can serve as a guide in protecting children from being exposed on the media, especially on the print media, which he said, can last for decades.
According to him, it is very dangerous for journalists to show their colours in writing their stories.
"You must be fair and balanced in your reports. Not revealing the identity of the child does not in anyway make your story unethical. The manner in which you report can cause embarrassment and stigma to the child," he concluded.
